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**Important Update: The Department of State is now required to issue passports to nonbinary and trans people with correct gender markers, and has issued guidance on how to do so. On July 2, 2025, after being ordered to do so by a court in the case Orr v. Trump, the U.S. Department of State issued for nonbinary and trans people applying for passports. It is now possible to apply for a new passport or renew a passport if you have previously changed the gender marker on your passport or need to change the gender marker on your passport. Applications must include an declaring that you’re a member of one of the classes certified in Orr v. Trump, meaning that your gender is different from your sex assigned at birth and/or you’ve been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, and you’re applying for a passport with a designation that’s different from your sex assigned at birth. No additional documentation is required other than the attestation form.

Important note: If you are applying for a new passport or replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged passport, you must apply . Applications to renew a passport or change information on an existing passport can be .**

Whether you identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, or are questioning aspects of your identity, it is always best to learn more about the social climate, laws, and norms for personal interactions in other cultures. Some societies abroad are more liberal than the U.S. on these matters and some less. Inform yourself of these key issues within the countries you are considering for your education abroad experience. Below are links to resources from organizations who have complied information on LGBTQIA+ issues throughout the world specific to international education, travel, and campus life. There are tips and resources to help you prepare for your time abroad and your transition back into U.S. American life when you return. Preparing for what to expect in a particular country can make the difference between a wonderful experience abroad and a less than pleasant one.

LGBTQIA+ people experience different levels of acceptance throughout the world. Before you go, it is important to reflect on the culturally based ideas and definitions of sexual identity and gender and consider carefully how your identity as a LGBTQIA+ person may affect your relationships with host nationals, your cultural adjustment, and your overall education abroad experience. Part of your pre-departure preparations should include reflecting on the larger context of acting on your LGBTQIA+ identity while abroad. What role as a visitor do or should you have in the host culture? Does your right to be LGBTQIA+ in the U.S. conflict with your host country’s religious or cultural values and traditions? How will you reconcile your human rights with the cultural values of your host society? Are there safety considerations of which you should be aware?

The Office of International Education and Global Initiatives (IEGI) at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ University strives to create a safe and inclusive space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning students and their allies. Never hesitate to contact an advisor in the office for more information or to share your input or concerns; reach us at iegi@binghamton.edu. You can also visit the ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ  Q Center, located on the ground floor of Bartle Library in LSG 549, easily accessed via the doors along West Drive (a.k.a. "The Brain").